Riveters’ Hugh named to USL W League team of the month
Photo: Ryan Shaffer | Riveters SC
The Pittsburgh Riveters’ season may be over, but that doesn’t mean the accolades can’t come in, as midfielder/defender Abi Hugh was named to the USL W League Team of the Month for June on Monday afternoon.
The league made the announcement that Hugh was selected to a bench spot among players on the 93 USL W League teams across the country. The league puts a starting 11, including a keeper, and seven bench players on the team of 18.
Hugh is the second Riveter to make the team, as Bella Vozar was honored in May.
Hugh was born in the state of California, but grew up in Huntington, W.Va. She attended St. Joseph Central Catholic High School before playing for Marshall University and North Carolina State in college.
Hugh’s dad, Chris, attended high school at Tri Valley (now Albert Gallatin) and her mom, Tammy, is a Laurel Highlands graduate. Her grandfather, Robert McKnight, whom Hugh describes as “one of her biggest fans,” currently lives in Washington County, but is a Uniontown native and still attends church in the Fayette County seat.
Hugh started all six of Pittsburgh’s matches in June, and helped the team to a record of 4-0-2. The Riveters clinched the Great Forest Division championship and a berth in the USL W League playoffs with a 2-1 home victory over Steel City FC on June 27 before a sellout crowd at Highmark Stadium.
Hugh started two matches as a holding midfielder while captain and Grindstone native Tessa Dellarose was away, three at center back for Piper Coffield and Natalia DiSoria, at left wing back, which is the position she started when the season kicked off.
Hugh provided an assist in the Riveters’ 3-1 victory at Steel City on June 11. Dellarose was available for the match, but after just competing in the TST, she was relegated to being a fan. Hugh picked up the slack for her captain in setting up Olivia Damico for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Hugh stated in a recent interview with the TikTokłÉČË°ć that she has been placed all over the field by Pittsburgh coach Scott Gibson, but she was glad to help the club. Hugh has aspirations to play professionally, and after receiving the news Monday, she should be getting a look sooner rather than later.